The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-28
SUMMARY OF CONGRESS.
Senate Proceedings

9TH DAY.-The new list Of Committee
was adopted as reported by Mr.. Hoar. "A
large number Of miscellaneous petitions were
received, and among the bills introduced
were the following: By Mr.. Dawes-To
grant lands in severalty to Indians in
certificates; Mr.. Dolph-To reform the land
laws; Mr.. Bowen-To provide new
basis Of national bank circulation;
Mr.. Aldrich-To apply the Treasury
surplus to purchasing bonds; Messrs. Hoar,
Sawyer and Mitchell-To amend the Alien
Land act; Mr.. Turpie-To admit Montana
and New Mexico into the Union; Mr.. Far
well-Prohibiting immigration Of convicts,
paapsrs idiots or is I Mr. Dopa
defenses; Mr.. Eustis-To provide for joint
celebration at Washington in 1889 by the
sixteen American republics in honor Of the
centennial Constitution of the parent repub-
lic-the United States. 1t provides for q
Commission of nine members to make ar
rangements for the celebration, and appro-
PIRATES $500, 600 for expenses: Mr.. Edmunds-
To provide for the establishment Of a postal
telegraph; Mr.. Vance-To amend the Civil
Service act; Mr.. Misunderstanding a
pension for every soldier and sailor who is
incapacitated for the performance Of manual
labor, and for pensions to dependent rela-
tives of deceased soldiers and sailors. (He
said that he introduced the bill at the
unanimous request of the Executive Com
mittee Of the Grand Armyof the Republict....
Mr.. Butler offered resolution, which was
adopted, for the appointment Of select COM
mittee Of five to inquire into the advisability
and practicability of establishing and main
tanning postal telegraph. a.. Mr.. Hall offered
resolution providing for the appointment Of
q select committee of seven to examine fully
into the present condition Of the civil service
in all its branches. Executive session.
9Th DAY.-The bill to refund the direct tax
to the States was unanimously reported
favorably from the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Hoar introduced the Constitutional
Amendment to change the date Of Inaugural
tion day to April 80. y. Bills introduced: BY
Mr. Cullom-To am End the Interstate Com
merce law and to establish postal telegraph;
Mr.. Reagan-Providing for an international
silver coinage commission; Mr.. lngalls-To
remove the limitation in the payment of ar
rears Of pensions. :. Mr.. Platt offered a reso-
luton to amend the rules so that hereafter
the Senate shall consider and act upon
session, except when otherwise ordered. Re-
ferred to the Committee on Rules
7TH DAY.-Mr. Hoar, from the Committee
on Privileges and Elections, presented re.
port stating that Charles J. Faulkner, and
not Daniel H Lucas, was entitled to the seat
as Senator from West Virginia The resolu-
tions were agreed to, and Mr.. Faulkner was
thereupon sworn in. :. Bills introduced: By
Mr.. ITeller-To provide for the coinage of
half-dollars, quarters and dimes; by Mr.
George-To protect innocent purchasers Of
patented articles. making it valid defence
against actions for infringement that the ar
ticle was bought for use or consumption, not
for sale, and in good faith, and in the usual
course of trade, and providing that all
patents shall be subject to purchase by the
Government for general use, at a reasonable
valuation. Upon motion Of Mr.. Platt, the
last bill was referred, after debate, to the
Committee on Patents by 40 yeas to 25 nays
%. Mr.. Morrill, spoke in favor of his bill reg
ulating immigration. Its main object, he
said, was to have the character of foreign
immigrants examined first by United States
Consuls at the ports Of departure, instead of
by State Commissioners at the ports Of ar
rival